The sects do not believe in modern medicine and shun hospitals. opting to rely solely on the power of prayer meaning and untrained midwives. During a recent meeting with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, sect leaders called on authorities to help register their children aged 18.
“We don’t know how we can be assisted to register these children who are now eligible to vote for they do not have the requisite documents since they were born at home and not at the clinics,” he said.
ZEC Chairperson Justice Rita Makarau said “If these children have reached 18 years, it means they have been going to school. How have they done that without birth certificates? Every child born in Zimbabwe is supposed to be registered.” Deputy Chairperson for the election commission Joyce Kazembe “As ZEC we operate within the confines of the law. For anything to be done for these children it would require legal provisions to be made but this is not done by ZEC.”
Authorities have for years played cat and mouse games with the sects especially during national programmes such as immunisation campaigns as the churches totally shun any form of medical care.
Zanu (PF) National Chairman Simon Khaya Moyo recently told the sects to register as voters saying the party relied on the vote of these indigenous churches because they advanced the “independence agenda”.
Post published in: News